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National Produce/Floral Procurement, Loblaw
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President, Safeway Eastern
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Category Manager of Produce, Food Lion
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Director of Produce, Unified Grocers, Inc.
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CEO & President, Frieda's
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Senior Director of Produce, Raley's Family of Fine Stores
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Founder, Reggie Griffin Strategies
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Vice President of Marketing, California Avocado Commission
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PELION, SC - WP Rawl recently hosted the third-annual Katie’s Krops Camp this past week at its headquarters in Pelion, SC to help empower young growers in their communities.
Alongside Founder Katie Stagliano, WP Rawl brought together fourteen handpicked campers for a three-day event that included workshops on growing practices, budgeting, and other gardening needs. The all-expenses paid camp educates young growers about agriculture, the environment, and teaches a sustainable solution to the problem of hunger, as well as responsibility and compassion, according to a press release.
“I am so grateful to WP Rawl for making my dreams a reality by hosting and sponsoring the camp and supporting our grant cycle,” said Katie Stagliano, Chief Executive Gardener and Founder of the youth-based non-profit Katie’s Krops. “Campers have a wonderful a wonderful opportunity to learn from one another, encourage each other, and create lasting friendships.”
Ashley Rawl, WP Rawl’s Vice President of Sales, Marketing, and Product Development, went on to say that it has been amazing to watch Katie grow over the years the company has worked with her.
“Katie has such vision,” said Rawl. “Once we learned about her mission, we knew we wanted to help her cause.”
This summer, the campers, including Katie, will participate in a community service project where they will raise garden beds for the Lexington Interfaith Community Services (LICS) in nearby Lexington.
Katie’s Krops was founded when nine year old Katie donated a 40 pound cabbage to a soup kitchen where it fed 275 people. Now at sixteen years old, Katie has helped expand the non-profit across 30 states.
LOS ALAMITOS, CA – Frieda’s is gearing up for a hot Hatch Chile season out of New Mexico, beginning next month.
Frieda’s has guaranteed volume and good supply, according to a press release, with a team that has the expertise to help retailers with a Hatch Chile-focused roasting program.
“According to the New Mexico Department of Agriculture, the green chile business continues to increase,” the release states, with an estimated number of 700 to 800 semi loads of fresh market green chiles being sold across the nation in retail stores. “That number increases annually.”
The green chiles, loved by "chile heads” for the zesty fragrance that rises when roasted over open flame, contain a robust flavor and are exclusively grown in the Mesilla Valley just outside of Hatch, New Mexico.
The Hatch Chile season is set to run from August through September, and Frieda’s plans to offer 25-pound cases of all four heat levels—mild, medium, hot, and extra hot!
For the latest news and products in the produce industry, keep checking in with AndNowUKnow.
SANTA PAULA, CA - The Limoneira Company is acquiring 157 acres of citrus orchards in the San Joaquin Valley for about $3.3 million, about $21,000 per acre, expecting that the transaction will be closed and finished within the next 60 days.
According to a press release, Limoneira purchased 157 acres of orange, lemon, and specialty citrus orchards, pursuant to “purchase options contained in certain operating leases the Company has had since 2012 for approximately 1,000 acres of lemon, orange, specialty citrus and other crops,” referred to as the Sheldon Ranch leases.
The company announced previously that it had sold the 52 acre Wilson Ranch, expected to close next month, which is being put towards the purchase of this latest property. The company stated that an estimated $2.8 million from the sale will go towards the total $3.3 million.
The total rent expense for the fiscal 2015 year for the recent property purchase is reportedly estimated at $100,000 on the expected closing date, having previously been $131,000 more for the fiscal 2014 year. The agreement, per the release, for the lease includes a base rent of $500 per acre and a contingent rent of 50 percent of the operating profit of the leased property (as defined in the lease agreements.)
Limoneira stated that the sale of Wilson Ranch and purchase of the citrus orchards qualifies as a “like-kind exchange,” and allows it to defer about one million dollars of gain for tax purposes.
LONGUEUIL, QC - Marking two years since the Provigo Le Marché banner relaunch and opening a new flagship location in Longueuil, Loblaw had a lot to celebrate this past week. In honor of the new store, the company took the time to look back at the past 24 months its $210 million investment in Québec.
Particularly interesting, Loblaw’s management revealed some key changes in its consumers eating habits over the past two years, which the company attributes to the style of the Provigo Le Marché concept. Fresh products now account for 55% of a shopper’s contents on average, an increase of 7% compared to two years ago. Organic products also saw a leap, showing a steady annual increase of 6% in purchases.
Pierre Dandoy, Senior Vice-President of Operations for the Provigo, Provigo Le Marché and Loblaws Québec banners and architect of the relaunch said, ”If, two years ago, we were able to blaze ahead with such assurance, it is primarily due to our ability to listen closely to what consumers across Québec and our dedication to travel the world to identify the most innovative food and retail practices.”
Other changes in consumers eating habits from Loblaw’s report include:
- An increase to the frequency of store visits
- The food category that experienced the highest growth is "ready-to-eat" meals, freshly prepared by Provigo's chefs
- The new product category that experienced the most sustained demand is fresh, preservative-free juices
- In-store culinary workshops experienced an average growth in popularity of over 90%
Now opening the third Provigo Le Marché built in Montréal's South Shore, the store's conversion has made it possible to accommodate many additional services and new items, including:
- A wide range of fresh products from growers and producers regionally and across Québec
- An expanded selection of organic fruits and vegetables
- A salad bar and a juice bar serving juices freshly squeezed each morning
- Daily deliveries of seafood from sustainable fisheries and an oyster bar
- Beef aged in store, several sausage varieties, and local products
- An immense range of ready-to-eat dishes, pizzas and ready-to-heat meals prepared by chefs
- A vast array of cupcakes and macaroons
- A sushi counter where customers can have personalized orders
- Over 400 cheeses, including 300 from Québec, along with a selection of imported prosciutto and Québec pâtés and terrines
"Today, we are proud to open the Provigo Le Marché flagship store in Longueuil," said Sylvain Jodoin, General Director for the Provigo Le Marché and Loblaw's banners in Québec. "My 210 store colleagues and our teams have devoted months to creating an environment in which consumers will enjoy discovering the fresh local products we'll be offering them each day based on the advice of our in-store experts."
In Loblaw’s press release, the Provigo Le Marché team also mentioned they gave a total of $4,000 in donations to the Centre jeunesse de la Montérégie, Moisson Rive-Sud, Breakfast for Learning and young athlete Julianne Séguin, all of whom were on hand to thank the members of the team for its generosity and involvement.
WASHINGTON D.C. - The USDA has imposed sanctions on two produce businesses for failure to pay reparation awards issued under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA).
According to a press release, the following businesses and individuals are currently restricted from operating in the produce industry:
- Global Fresh Inc., operating out of Los Angeles, CA, for failing to pay an $18,405 award in favor of an Arizona seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Guillermo Alvarado was listed as the officer, director, and major stockholder of the business.
- Yippikya Family Trading Inc., operating out of Newberry, FL, for failing to pay a $63,072 award in favor of a Florida seller. As of the issuance date of the reparation order, Katherine E. Schneider, Jared Schneider, and Jay S. Schneider were listed as the officers, directors, and/or major stockholders of the business.
The USDA is required to suspend the license or impose sanctions on an unlicensed business that fails to pay PACA reparations awarded against it as well as impose restrictions against those principals determined to be responsibly connected to the business when the order is issued. Those individuals, including sole proprietors, partners, members, managers, officers, directors, or major stockholders may not be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee without USDA-approval.
In the past three years, USDA resolved approximately 4,250 PACA claims involving more than $77 million. USDA experts have also assisted more than 7,000 callers with issues valued at approximately $110 million. Individuals, including sole proprietors, Partners, members, Managers, Officers, Directors, or major stockholders may not be employed by or affiliated with any PACA licensee without the approval of the USDA. The Agricultural Marketing Service, PACA Division, regulates fair trading practices of produce businesses operating subject to PACA.
SAN JUAN BAUTISTA, CA – Earthbound Farm has launched a new organic Kale Caesar flavor to add to its popular PowerMeal Bowl line.
“The new Kale Caesar expands the line with a contemporary twist on the traditional Caesar Salad,” the company stated in a press release.
Kale Caesar includes tender baby kale, red and green cabbage, and sweet shredded carrots packaged together with roasted sunflower seeds, tangy aged parmesan cheese, multi-grain croutons, and a lite Caesar dressing.
Available in a 5.5 oz clamshell, the ready-to-eat salad targets the on-the-go consumer trend, the fourth in the full line of PowerMeal Bowls that the company redesigned to better communicate ingredients and flavors.
In addition to the new Kale Caesar, new salad dressings have been included in the original Asian Noodle and Spinach Quinoa salad flavors, according to Earthbound Farm. Spinach Quinoa now comes with an organic red balsamic vinaigrette, and Asian Noodle includes an organic tangy tahini soy vinaigrette.
According to a 2013 Seurat Group/Earthbound Farm national survey, salad bowl consumers stock up and purchase nearly twice as many packaged greens each month as non-bowl consumers, which is why the company says these salad bowls are poised to deliver incremental sales in any salad set. The same survey found that 73% of consumers that try the PowerMeal Bowls indicate the intention to repurchase.
All four PowerMeal Bowl flavors — Kale Caesar, Asian Noodle, Southwest and Spinach Quinoa — are completely organic and available now, shipping with the suggested retail price (SRP) of $4.99 in 4.93 – 5.58 oz clamshells.
SALINAS, CA - Mark your calendars: PMA Foodservice Expo is coming up, and this year Church Brothers will be there showing off the company’s new #ImperfectVeg program.
At the Monterey, CA expo, you’ll be able to stop by Booth #23 and learn more about the #ImperfectVeg program, which advocates selling fresh produce items to foodservice operators that were previously discarded or rotated back into the soil due to not meeting industry standards for cosmetic attributes.
“With education, the #ImperfectVeg may be accepted faster by foodservice customers because the end consumer chooses off a menu description rather than at retail where they buy with their eyes,” said Kori Tuggle, Vice President of Marketing.
Church Brothers announced in a press release that it will be displaying its entire #ImperfectVeg product line at the PMA Foodservice Expo including: direct field-packed Romaine leaves and cauliflower, value-added Broccoli bits, and second crop baby kale, baby chard and clip spinach.
Along with the offerings at PMA Foodservice, on Saturday, July 25, Church Brothers will host an annual private party at the family ranch to thank its customers for their support.
“The family ranch party is part of the Church Brothers’ leadership legacy in the Salinas Valley,” added Tuggle. “Our customers look forward to the party all year, it’s a great time to showcase our products and say thank you for your business.”
This year, Church Brothers will also participate in the PMA Foundation Career Pathways program. “The best way to get produce center of the plate is through education,” Tuggle said, and by hosting students and faculty for a tour of its True Leaf Farms salad processing plant in San Juan Bautista, Church Brothers says this event will give the company a chance to host future produce operators.
COLIMA, MX - Mexico’s Colima volcano, better known as the 'Volcano of Fire,' erupted this past Thursday, and eruptions have continued to intensify since. Mexican officials are now evacuating residents in both Colima and Jalisco in fear that a larger eruption is on its way, reports say.
A more than 7.5-mile area surrounding the volcano was shuttered over fears of a larger eruption, the BBC reports. Explosions have been occurring since Thursday on the volcano’s slopes, and columns of ash have spewed as high as 1.7 miles into the sky.
"The communities in this 12km radius are very small and don't exceed 800 inhabitants. They have all been evacuated," said Luis Felipe Puente, Civil Protection Co-Ordinator for Colima.
Government officials in Colima are calling the activity at Colima “atypical," saying that eruptions of this type and intensity hadn't been seen since the volcano’s largest explosive eruption in 1913, the Associated Press reports.
Authorities are monitoring the volcanic activity “minute by minute,” RT reports, expecting one of three possible scenarios: a slow fading of activity over the next months, the collapse of the volcano’s domes, or a major explosive eruption.
NEWARK, NJ - AeroFarms® broke ground on its new global headquarters.
The beginning of the 69,000 square-foot indoor vertical farm was an event that prompted the appearance of numerous local influencers, including Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka, Newark Councilman Augusto Amador, New Jersey Acting Governor Kim Guadagno, New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Douglas H. Fisher, and other elected officials and civic leaders.
“Today’s groundbreaking takes us one step closer to addressing the tremendous demand for our locally grown produce that is setting a new culinary standard for freshness and taste,” David Rosenberg, CEO for AeroFarms, said, according to a press release. “We are excited to redefine not only the Garden State but also agriculture overall, and our goal is to increase access to healthier options by working with a wide-range of selling partners from retail to foodservice to farmers markets.”
What is set to be AeroFarms’ new headquarters will also be the world’s largest indoor vertical farm. The company has partnered up with Goldman Sachs, RBH Group, Prudential Financial, the City of Newark, and NJEDA Partner in order to redevelop the former industrial location.
“Partnering with RBH, Goldman Sachs, Prudential, NJEDA, the City of Newark, and the ICC allows us to bring our global headquarters and the world’s largest indoor vertical farm close to where the consumer is, while also creating jobs,” Rosenberg said, adding that the company is happy to build on its deep ties within the Newark Community.
The new corporate headquarters and vertical farm, located on a three-acre industrial site in the center of the Ironbound community in Newark, New Jersey, was designed by the award-winning architectural design firm KSS Architects.
"Today we break ground on an exciting new development that will anchor our “Makers Village” project in the Ironbound neighborhood to compete toe-to-toe with the Brooklyn Navy Yard with a superior cost structure and greater transmodal access, bringing 21st century “maker-type” businesses to Newark and the State of New Jersey,” Ron Beit, Founding Partner and CEO of RBH Group, said, in the release. “We are delighted to bring our elected officials and financial partners together to introduce AeroFarms, a farming and technology leader, to the City of Newark, creating jobs for local residents and greater access to locally grown produce for our city.”
According to AeroFarms, the project is a public private partnership that received public investments from the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) and the City of Newark, as well as New Market Tax Credit allocation from Goldman Sachs, United Fund Advisors and Dudley Venture. Goldman Sachs’ Urban Investment Group and Prudential Financial also led over $30 million in financing for the endeavor.
“Newark is pleased to partner with AeroFarms, RBH Group, Goldman Sachs, Prudential Financial and the New Jersey Economic Development Authority on the creation of the world's largest indoor vertical farm,” Mayor Ras J. Baraka stated. “Newark is becoming a destination for high-tech and environmentally-friendly development, and this project in the East Ward will bring jobs and prosperity to our city.”
AeroFarms stated that upon completion of the facility, it will have the capacity to grow up to 2 million pounds per year of baby leafy greens and herbs in an environment that will be controlled, safe, and sanitary facility. It will provide healthy foods to the local community as well as to other markets.
“AeroFarms is a model for successful, sustainable farming offering 75 times more productivity per square foot annually than a traditional field farm while using no pesticides and consuming over 95% less water,” the company stated in the release.
Upon completion of the first phase, the new facility is set to create about 80 new jobs in the local community. The first phase of the new headquarters is set to open by the end of this year.